Paper-feeding machine.



Patents@ may l5, |900.

No. 649,82l.

T. DEXTER. PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

6 Shasta-Sheet l.

-(App1.cation ld Mar. B 1899.) (No Madam-- co. FNoroLlmo.. WASHINGTON, u c

'Paten'td May I5, |90U.- T. G. DEXTER.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

6 sheets-sheet 2 (Application meu Mm. 6, 1899.', (N u IUI ud el.)

Patented May l5, |960.. T. C. DEXTER..

PAPER No. 549,82l.

FEEDING MAGHINE.

(Application le. Mar. 6 1899.) (No modal.) s sheets-sheet a.

WITNESS A Tra/MHS wmouwo.. WASHINGTON D c Patented May I5, |900.

No. 649,82I.

T. C. DEXTER.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

(Application filed Mar.' 6, 1899.)

6 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

TMve/z fai".

@agua s J es,

,7 Q @W1/www4 y No. 649,821. Patented May l5, |900.

T. LJEXTER.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

(Application tiled Mar. B, 1899,) (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 5.

y I 66C 45 S 70 m@ MM MQ/(m Unteren STATES i Trice.

PATENT PAPER'I-FEEDING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 649,821, dated May 15, 1900.

Application led March 6,1899. Serial No. '702875. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, TALBOT G. DEXTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pearl River, in the county of Rockland and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Paper-Feeding Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my present invention is to provide a self-adjusting sheet-buckling mechanism for papenfeeding machines which is particularly applicable to the form of such mechanism covered by my application for Letters Patent tiled August 5,1898, Serial No. 687,880.

In the accompanying drawings I have represented my improvements in connection with the mechanism covered by said application Serial No. 687,880, and in said drawings- Figure 1 is a rear end elevation of a paperfeeding machine embodying` my improvements. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged rear end elevation of the sheet-buckling mechanism shown at the righthand side of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the same. Fig. 5 is an edge elevation of the same looking toward the center of the machine. Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 6 b' of Fig. Fig. 7 is a detail view representing the action of the cams upon the pile-retaining and bucklersupporting feet.

1 1 are parts of the main side frames of the paper-feeding machine, upon which the supporting-frame of my improved sheet-buckling mechanism is mounted.

2 2 are the longitudinally-extending buckler-supporting bars, which are rigidly secured adjacent to their rear ends in brackets 3 3, which are in turn securely bolted to the inner face of the side frames 1 1.

5 5 are longitudinally-extending buckleroperating shafts jonrnaled at their forward ends in the longitudinally-adjustable brackets 6 G, which are supported upon the bars 2 2 and secured in adjusted position by tap-bolts 7 7. The shafts 5 5 are journaled at their rear ends in suitable bearings 8 8.

9 10 represent worm-gearing, the gear 9 be ing keyed to one of the shafts 5, while the gear 10 is keyed to the transverse shaft 1l, which is the main operating-shaft of the paper-feeding machine. Each of the shaft-s 5 is geared lugs or ears d, between which are secured the v reduced ends of the transverse buckler-supporting bar 15.

1G 16 represent bolts which secure the ends of the bar 15 in the bifurcated lugs 6L, the ends of bar 15 having elongated slots, through which the bolts 1G 16 loosely pass.

It will be observed that the bucklersup porting frame comprises the longitudinallyextending rigid bars 2 2 and the transverse bar 15, the bar 15 being adjustable longitudinally upon the bars 2 2 by reason of the adj ustable brackets 6 6, which slide upon the bars 2 2. The loose-jointconnection between brackets 6 and ends of bar 15 prevents the brackets binding upon the bars 2 2, as they Would do if the brackets were rigid with bar 15. The brackets G G also slide longitudinally upon shafts 5 5, which are held against longitudinal movement.

I will now describe one of t-he sheet-buckling mechanisms, from which the structure of both will be understood ,as they are substantially identical with the exception that they are reversed.

20 is a casting mounted upon the bar 15 and adjustable thereon transversely of the pile of sheets.

21 reprerents tap-bolts threaded into suitable openings formed in the bosses of casting 2O and engaging the bar 15 for clamping the casting or bracket 2O in any desired adjusted position.

25 is a verticallyanovable automaticallyadjustable bracket or slide which is supported in a vertical guideway formed in the rear face of casting 20. This slide bracket or frame 25 is suitably confined in the guideway, but is free to move vertically to follow the height of the pile of sheets by gravity. The operating parts of the sheet-buckling mechanism are all suitably supported upon the bracket or slide 25, as hereinafter described, and move up or down with the self adjusting slide and are maintained in working relation to the pile of. sheets.

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23 is a stop-finger bolted to the bracket 20, and 26 is a stop-lug on the rear face of slide 25, which is arranged to engage the stop 23 for limiting the downward movement of the slide and supporting it when the pile-support or table is lowered for the recept-ion of a new pile of sheets.

Projecting horizontally from the face of the bracket or slide 25 is a rigid bracket-arm 40, to which is journaled the upper end of a laterally-movable link 41, which supports at its lower end the sheet-buckling finger 50, provided with the rigidly-secured block or roll 5l, of soft rubber or other suitable frictional material. The buckling-finger 50 is mounted upon a bolt or journal-pin 45, journaled in laterally-lnovable link 41 andprovided with a torsional spring 52, which engages the link 4l at one end and a rotary adjustable washer 54 upon pin 45 at its other end for the purpose of giving the buckling-finger 50 a constant downward spring-pressure.

42 is a lug or finger formed integral with the hub of buckling-finger 50, and 43 is an adjusting-screw mounted in the lug or finger 42 and engaging a similar lug or finger 65, formed integral with a pitman 65, which is journaled upon the pin 45 at one end and to acrank 67 at its opposite end. The crank 67 is keyed to or formed integral with a short rotary sleeve 68, which is journaled upon a bolt or pin 68, secured in the head 69 (hereinafter referred to) and bracket 70 of the verticallylnovable gravity-slide 25. The means for rotating the sleeve 68 will be hereinafter described. The slide 25 is formed at its lower end with bracket-arms 35 and 36, between which the rotary sleeve is located.

8O is the holding-down foot or pile-retaining clamp, formed integral with or attached to one end of an arm 82, which is journaled upon a pin 81, projecting rearwardly from the bracket 35 of the gravity-slide 25. 'lhe arm 8 2 has journaled to it between the foot 8O and pin 81 an antifriction-roller 83, which is supported directly beneath a cam 84, keyed to the rotary sleeve 68.

is a clamp or foot against which the sheets are buckled. The foot 85 is formed integral with or attached to an arm 86, journaled upon a pin 87, projecting forwardly from the bracket-arm 36 of the slide 25. The arm 86 has journaled to it between the foot 85 and pin 87 an antifriction-roller 88, which is engaged by a cam 89, keyed to the rotary sleeve 68 adjacent to the cam 84. The cams 84 and 89 are similarly shaped, being approximately one-third circular, and are oppositely placed upon the rotary sleeve 68, so that they will operate alternately, and one of themis constantly operating one of the clamps 8O or 85. Each of the pile-engaging feet or clamps 8O or 85 when released from its operating-cam 84 or 89 rests by its own gravity upon the pile and does not materially affect or interfere with the operation of the other parts of the mechanism. The clamp-arms 82 and 86 extend in opposite directions from their supporting bracket-arms 35 and 36 to support the clamps 8O and 85 in proper position upon the pile and bring the antifriction-rollers 83 and 88 directly beneath the rotary sleeve 68 for the operation of the cams upon them.

95 is a rod or bar journaled in brackets 91, so as to slide freely vertically therein. The rod or bar carries at its lower end a small rubber block or pad, which is constantly held in engagement with the top sheet of the pile by means of an expansion-spring 92,surround ing the rod 90 and confined between the upper bracket 91 and an adjustable collar 93, secured to the rod or bar 95. The rod or bar 95, with its block or pad of rubber, constitutes an auxiliary frictional device which engages the pile adjacent to the pile-retaining clamp or foot 8O to assist in preventing the Withdrawal of more than one sheet from under the clamp or foot 8O by the action of the sheetbuckling finger. Such an auxiliary frictional device is broadly covered in an application for patent filed by me August 4, 1897, Serial No. 647,014.

Journaled in a bracket 25 of the slide 25 is a rock-shaft 133, having adjustably clamped upon it an arm 134, carrying in its .forward bifurcated end a rubber block 134. The arm 134 is adjustably clamped to the rock-shaft 133 by means of a bolt 1333. Mounted upon one end of the rock-shaft 133 is a spiral spring 135, which engages a pin 136 of the bracketarm 25a at one end and an adjustable collar 137 at its opposite end. The collar 137 is formed with the slotted circular iange 1,38, in the siots of which engage a pin 139, extending transversely through shaft 133. It will be observed that the spring 135 will constantly tend to move the rubber block 134n upon arm 134 into engagement with the top of the pile of sheets. This movement is allowed to occur intermittently by the operation of a rotary cam 140, keyed to or formed integral with the rot-ary sleeve 68, (adjacent to cam 89,) which constantly engages an antifrictionroll 141, journaled in the end of the rock-arm 142, which is rigid with arm 134 upon the rock-shaft 133. rlhe cam 140 is approximately semicircular in shape and is placed upon the sleeve 68 in opposite relation to the cam 89, the same as cam 84, so that when the pressure upon holding-down finger or clamp 80 is released by the operation of cam 84 and the pressure upon clamp 85 is applied by cam 89 therubberholding-block134a will be held in engagement with the pile by the operation of spring 135. It will further be observed that the forward motion of the' ICO IOS

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buckling-finger 50 is accomplished while the clamp 85 and the rubber holding-block 134` 1311, with block of rubber 184, constitutes a tail-gripper which engages the under sheet or sheets just in rear of the rear edge of the top sheet as it moves forward under the action of the feeding-off devices.

I will now proceed to describe the extensible driving mechanism which transmits motion from the operating-shafts 5 to the operating parts of the sheet-buckling mechanisms, said extensible driving mechanism comprising a pair of angularly-disposed driving members so arranged that the independent transverse and automatic vertical adjustments of the buckling mechanisms can be ac-' complished without disarranging the operating mechanism or interfering with the continuous operation of the machine, while the longitudinal adjustment of the driving mechanisms is accomplished simultaneously with the same adjustment of the buckling mechanisms upon the buckler-supporting bars.

Keyed to or formed integral with the rotary sleeve (5S is a sprocket-wheel 150, by which said rotary sleeve is driven.

151 is an adjustable or extensible strut or brace adjustably secured at its lower end to the bearing part G9, through which bolt or pin (58 extends, and rigidly secured at its upper end to a head 152, supporting a short shaft or pin 153. The pin GS journals the head G9 to the bracket 70 of the buckler-frame 25. It will be observed that the brace or strut 151 can be shortened er lengthened.

Journaled upon the shortshaft or pin 153 is a sprocket-wheel 160, which is supported by said shaft 155 in the same vertical transverse plane as the sprocket 150.

101 is an endless sprocket-chain passing around the sprocket-wheels 150 and 1GO for driving the former from the latter.

165 is a second sprocket-wheel upon the short shaft 153, alongside of and secured to the sprocket-wheel 1GO.

166 is an adjustable transversely-extending strut or brace rigidly secured at one end to a bearing-head 169, through which the shaft153 extends, and adjustably secured at its other end to a bearing 170, journaled upon the shaft 5 and secured to the bracket 6 of the supporting-bar 2.

171 is a sprocket-wheel having spline connection with the shaft 5, so as to be adjustable longitudinally thereof.

175 is a sprocket-chain passing around the sprocket-wheels 171 and 165.

The sprocket-wheels 1GO and 105 are arranged to rotate together upon shaft 153, the former being driven by the latter.

From this structure it will be observed that the rotation of shaft 5 will be directly transmitted to the rotary sleeve (SS, the extensible driving mechanism allowing for any adjustment of the buckling mechanism transversely or vertically with relation to the pile of sheets.

As above stated, the two sheet-buckling mechanisms and their operating mechanisms are substantial d u plcates.

The pile of paper P is supported upon an adjustable table or support P.

The machine described constituting my invention is of course designed to be employed in connection with the essential parts of a paper-feeding machine.

The feeding-off devices of any suitable construction are indicated by reference F F.

The operation of my improved sheet-buckling mechanism may be brieiiy described as follows: The brackets 25 being supported freely in the castings 20, so as to move by gravity down toward the pile of sheets, it will be observed that the brackets and all of the operating parts of the buckling mechanism attached thereto are supported only by the engagement of the buekler-supporting and pile-holding feet S0 and 85. As shown in Fig. 3, the mechanisms are in the position assumed at the commencement of the buckling operation. By the rotation of the sleeves G8 the buckling-fingers are moved inwardly, the lugs (n moving out of the way of limitingscrews 43 sufficiently to allow the bucklinginger springs to press the rubber blocks 51 down into frictional engagement With the top sheet of the pile. As this movement commences the cams 89 are in engagement with antifriction-rollers SS, holding the pile-engaging feet S5 firmly in engagement with the pile and supporting the whole weight of the two sets of buckling mechanism upon said feet. The pile-retaining feet S0 rest very lightly upon the pile, being intiuenced only by gravity, and the tail-grippers 131 are elevated from the pile 4by engagement of cams 140. The forward movement of the buckling-1ingcrs buckle the rear corners of the top sheet of the pile from under the feet 8O and against the feet S5. At the completion of the inward stroke of the buckling-fingers the position of cams Se and 89 and 140 is reversedJ so that the pressure upon feet S5 will be released, the weight of the buckling mechanisms be thrown upon the pile-retaining feet 80, and the tailgrippers will be moved into engagement with the pile by their springs. At this point in the operation the feeding-off devices F F como into play and feed the buckled sheet forwardly upon the pile, the rear edge of the partially-separated sheet passing under and being just missed by the spring-pressed tailgrippers 13t to further insure against the forward movement of any under sheets with the top sheet. The reverse movement of the buckling-fingers is accomplished by the continued rotation of the sleeves GS, the fingers (55a engaging screws 13 to elevate the buekling-ingers from the pile just before and maintain them in elevat-ed position during the reverse movement.

The important feature of novelty in my present application is the'automatically-adjustable or self.- adjusting sheetbuckling mechanism. The importance of this structure is apparent. The height of the pile of sheets to be f ed in this style of feeding-ina- IOO IIO

chine will vary greatly for different reasons. The principal cause of the unevenness in the pile of sheets is the fact that in printing the sheets the impression of the type upon the paper is very unequal, so that the thickness of the sheet at various points diers to such an extent that the pile presents an uneven top surface. These uneven surfaces do not of course correspond in different piles, and one pile may be high at a point where the succeedin g pile will have a depression. For this reason the self-adjusting feature of my improved buckler is of great importance as it moves vertically to suit the uneven surface of the pile without the necessity of the attention and adjustment of the parts by the operat'or.

f The advantage of the improved structure covered by my present application over the structure covered by my application, Serial No. 687,880, is that in the latter structure dependence has to be placed upon the operator to maintain the buckling mechanisms in proper adjusted position with relation to the pile, whereas in the present case the buckling mechanisms are self-ad j usting and faithfully follow the changing inequalities in the pile.

vHaving thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, in apaper-feeding machine, of a support for a pile of sheets, with two independent automaticallyadjustable sheet-buckling lmechanisms self -adjustable up and down with relation to the pile of sheets, and means for operating said independent self-adjustable sheet-buckling mechanisms.

2. The combination, in a paper-feedin g machine, of a support for a pile of sheets, of a self adjusting sheet buckling mechanism movable up and down with relation to the pile, two pile-engaging feet or clamps adapted to alternately support the sheet-buckling mechanism, and means for operating said sheet-buckling mechanism, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, in a paper-feeding mai chine, of a support for a pile of sheets, a sheetbuckling mechanism comprisingaself-adj usting vertically-movable frame, a sheet-buckling finger, two pile-en gagin g feet or clamps, and means for operating the sheet-buckling finger and forsupporting the weight of the buckler-frame upon said feet or clamps alternately, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, in a paper-feeding machine, of a support for a pile of sheets, with a sheet-buckling mechanism comprising a vertically-movable self-adjusting frame, a buckling-finger carried by said frame, two 'pileengaging feet or clamps pivotally mounted upon said frame, means for throwing the weight of the buckler-frame and operating parts upon the pile-engaging feet alternately, and means for operating the buckling-finger, substantially as set forth.

5. rlhe combination, in a paper-feeding machine, of a support for a pile of sheets, a suitable guideway or bracket,`a vertically-movable self-adjusting buckler-frame supported in said guideway or bracket, a buckling-finger and operating mechanism mounted upon said frame, the two pile-engaging feet journaled upon said frame, and means for throwing the weight of the buckler-frame and connected parts upon said feet alternately, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, in a paper-feeding machine, of a support for a pile of sheets, a guideway or bracket supported above the pile of sheets, a vertically movable selfadjusting buckler-frame mounted in said guideway or bracket, means for limiting the downward movement of'said frame in its guideway, a buckling-finger and operating mechanism vconnected with said buckler-frame, pile-engaging feet or clamps journaled upon said buckler-frame, means for forcing said feet or clamps into engagement with the pile alternately for supporting the weight of the buckler-frame and`connected parts upon one or the other of said feet or clamps, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, in a paper-feeding machine, with a support for a pile of sheets, of a buckler-frame,a link pivotally mounted upon said frame, a spring-pressed buckling-nger journaled upon said link, a rotating crank, a pitman connecting said crank with the buckler-iinger-supporting link, coacting lugs or ngers upon the buckling-finger and pitman and an adj Listing-screw carried by one of said lugs or fingers, substantially as set forth.

S. The combination, in apaper-feeding machine, of a support for a pile of sheets, with a vertically movable self adjusting bucklerframe, the two pile-engaging feet or clamps mounted upon oppositely extending arms journaled upon said buckler-frame, means for throwing said clamps or feet alternately into engagement with the pile, a bucklingfinger engaging the pile between said clamps or feet, and means for operating said buckling-finger, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination, in a paper-feeding machine, with a support for a pile of sheets, a buckler-frame suitably mounted above the sheet-support, a laterally-movable bucklingfinger support mounted on said frame, a spring-pressed buckling-finger journaled to said laterally-movable support, a rotating crank, a pitman connecting the crank with said laterally-movable support, and coacting lugs or fingers upon the buckling-finger and pitman, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

10. The combination, in a paper-feeding machine, with a support for a pile of sheets, a buckler-frame suitably mounted above the sheet-support, a laterally-movable bucklingfinger support mounted on said frame, a spring-pressed buckling-finger journaled to said laterally-movable support, a rotating crank, a pitman connecting the crank with IOO TIO

said laterally-movable support, coacting lugs or fingers upon the biickling-nger and pitman, and means for adjusting the engagement between said lugs or fingers, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

11. The combination, in a paper-feeding machine, of a support for a pile of sheets, a self-adjusting vertically-movable frame supported above the pile of sheets, a sheet-buckling linger mounted upon said frame, two pile-engaging feet or clamps connected with said frame, a rotary crank connected with and operating the buckling-finger, and a pair of oppositely-arranged cams adapted to alternately engage said feet or clamps for throwing the Weightv of the buckler-frame and connected parts upon one or the other of said feet or clamps; substantially as set forth.

12. The combination, in a paper-feeding machine, of a support for a pile ot' sheets, a guideway or bracket supported above the pile of sheets, a vertically-movable self-adjusting buckler-frame mounted in said guideway or bracket, a reciprocating bucklin g-n ger suitably mounted upon the buckler-frame, a rotary shaft journalcd in the buckler-frame, a crank upon said shaft operatively connected with the buckling-finger, a pair of pile-engaging feet or clamps pivotally mounted vupon the buckler-f rame, two oppositely-arranged cams upon the rotary shaft adapted to alternately engage said feet or clamps for throwing the weight of the buckler-frame upon one or the other of said feet or clamps, and means for operating the rotary shaft, substantially as set forth.

13. The combination, in a paper-feeding machine, of a support for a pile of sheets, a vertically-movable self-adjusting bncklerframe supported above the pile of sheets, a reciprocating buckling-fin ger suitably mounted upon said frame, means for operating the buckling-finger, a pair of pile-engaging feet or clamps journaled upon said buckler-frame, means for forcing said feet or clamps alternately into engagement with the pile to support the weight of the buckler-frame and connected parts upon one or the other of said feet or clamps, a tail-gripper, and means for throwing the tail-gripper into and out of engagement with the pile, substantially as set forth.

14. The combination, in a paper-feeding machine, of a support for a pile of sheets,

shcet-bucklin g mechanism self-adjustable up and down with relation to the pile, an operating-shaft,and extensible driving mechanism operatively connecting the buckling mechanism with the operating-shaft; substantially as set forth.

15. The combination, in a paper-feeding machine, of a support for a pile of sheets, sheet-buckling mechanism self-adj ustable up and down with relation to the pile, means for adjusting said buckling mechanism transversely with relation to the pile, and means for operating the buckling mechanism; substantially as set forth.

16. The combination, in a paper-feeding machine, of a support for a pile of sheets, sheet-bucklin g mechanism self-adj ustable up and down with relation to the pile, means for adjusting said buckling mechanism transversely and longitudinally with relation to the pile, an operating-shaft, and suitable eX- tensible driving mechanism operatively connecting the buckling mechanism with the operating-shaft, substantially as set forth.

17. The combination, in a paper-feeding machine, of a support for apile of sheets, a sheet-buckling mechanism comprising a selfadjusting vertically-movable frame, a sheetbuckling finger, two pile-engaging feet or clamps, means for throwing the Weight of the buckler-frame upon said feet or clamps alternately, and extensible driving mechanism for said sheet-buckling mechanism, substantially as set forth.

18. The combination, in a paper-feeding machine, of a support for a pile of sheets, with a sh eet-bucklin g mechanism comprising a vertically-movable self-adjusting frame, a buckling-finger carried by said frame, two pile-engaging feet or clamps pivotally mounted upon said frame, means for throwing the weight of the buckler-frame and connected parts upon the pile-engaging feet alternately, an operating-shaft, and extensible operating mechanism comprising a pair of angularlydisposed sprocket-chains operatively connected with the operating-shaft and sheetbuckling mechanism and with each other, substantially as set forth.

TALBOT CQDEJTER.

Witnesses: i

JOSEPH J. SCHMIDT, WM. E. KNIGHT.

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